License renewal of mobile phone firms in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has renewed the licences of Telenor, Ufone and Jazz to operate in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan for another 15 years.

These licenses were to be expired on June 25 (today).

Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan were the prime areas of tourism in Pakistan and the license renewal would pave the way for the provision of 3G/4G and next-generation mobile services to the consumers of these areas as well the tourists.

The three cellular mobile operators (CMOs) deposited with the PTA 50 per cent of the license renewal fee. The total license fee to be paid by these companies is $40.5m that is $13.5m per company.